The first of my 2010 Holiday collection is starting to appear at Neiman Marcus online, click here. This is the first of a series of four collections in gorgeous silky velvets and shimmering tissue embroidered by master craftsman of India.

We willkeep you updated as each new collection is released online through this link to my website. We can’t, obviously, link to all our products online, but will do our best to point to the significant ones.

Designs by Sudha has had the great honor of featuring our designs in The National Geographic Catalog. Many of you know National Geographic through their magazine, but their Mission aligns with one of our basic Missions, cultural preservation.

National Geographic has just released their Fall 2010 catalog and their amazing richness and taste is reflected here. In case you have missed it, you can view their catalog here.

Master printers in Jaipur created this skirt using an age old printing technique of “Khadi” in gold. “Ghagra” a staple in Indian women’s wardrobes was the inspiration for the skirt I did exclusively for National Geographic. Made with printed cotton in the tradition of homespun

fabric. Lightweight and flattering, the crinkle finish adds to the richness of the look.

Another National Geographic Exclusive, the Mughal Garnet Hoop Earrings are crafted from vibrant red garnets on a hand crafted silver hoop in the Mughal style. They were crafted in the northern Indian city of Jaipur, which remains an artistic center to this day.

Last that I’ll feature from this exciting catalog are the Jaipur Garnet Earrings. Known as balis, the earrings often combine a flat front surface with gems. We have crafted this offering for National Geographic using master jeweler’s techniques with a simpler shape that lets the faceted garnets sparkle against a gold-vermeil hoop.

We are finishing last minute prepartations for some special customer meetings in New York where we hope to bring more innovative and lush designs to all of you through our network of retailers. Supporting the cause of preserving hand craftsmenship has been an integral part of our mission for the past 25 years ago. We are proud of retailers for supporting our mission.

Following New York, we head to India where we continue to find the best artisans to create the most elaborate and intricate designs using time honored traditions. Thank you all for your support, I will follow up from India soon.

Alan Nazareth

"Sudha Pennathur is the most outstanding, innovative and dynamic woman entrepreneur that I know. I first met her when I was Consul General of India in New York during the 1986 -89 period, when she came to invite to a show of her traditional Indian jewellery and gift items at the Saks Department Store on Fifth Avenue. Since then I have seen her steady progress to great heights in this highly competitive field. She has made a great contribution to the promotion and marketing of high quality traditional Indian jewellery and gift items in the US. India, particularly its artisans in Rajasthan and Tamilnadu, are deeply grateful and highly appreciative of this; so are the Indian NGOs which she has been generously supporting."

-Alan Nazareth served in India’s diplomatic and consular missions in Tokyo, Rangoon, Lima, London, Chicago and New York and as India’s High Commissioner to Ghana and Ambassador to Liberia, Upper Volta, Togo, Egypt, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador & Belize.